Michigan Bowling Alley Owner Writes Obituary for Dying Business
Support is rolling in for a Michigan bowling alley after the owner shared an obituary for his business online.
Vision Lanes in Westland has been closed for 200 days in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Local 21 News reports.
In a Dec. 6 post to Facebook, owner Steve Kline says the bowling alley, "my business, my livelihood, my invention, my baby" is "barely conscious. She is dying slowly."
"Her death will save lives. She sees the mailbox continue to fill up with bills. Bills that have never stopped coming. The bills are as unrelenting as a shark that smells blood in the water. The end is near. There isn’t anything her Daddy can do to save her. He is helpless. It’s killing him. So when you see her Daddy, and he doesn’t have that same sparkle in his eyes or same love in his heart understand he is watching his baby die, right in front of his eyes."
A GoFundMe for Vision Lanes has received more than $26,000 in donations.
Kline tells WXYZ he is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. In an interview earlier this week, Kline also said he support Gov. Whitmer but wants to see bowling safely resume-- which will now happen Monday, Dec. 21.
On Friday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service and Gov. Whitmer announced that indoor entertainment venues, like bowling alleys, may reopen next week. In the updated order, bowling centers, casinos, and movie theaters will be allowed to reopen with total capacity capped at 100. Food and drink concessions must remain closed, and social distancing requirements in place. The new order is in effect through Friday, Jan.15.